Eraser particle collecting device for typewriters



June 11, 1957 w. SISKIND 2,795,310

'ERASER, PARTICLE COLLECTING DEVICE FOR TYPEWRITERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb 4, 1955 INVENTOR William Sis/$111005 W. SISKIND June 11, 1957 ERASER PARTICLE COLLECTING DEVICE FOR TYPEWRITERS Filed Feb. 4, 1955 3 She ets-Sheet 2 lliallt Sis/65nd AL; I ATTORNEYS W. SISKIND June 11, 1957 ERASER PARTICLE COLLECTING DEVICE FOR TYPEWRITERS Filed Feb. 4, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 v INVENTOR Sisltimd ATTORNEYS United States Patent ERASER PARTICLE COLLECTING DEVICE FOR TYPEWRITERS William Siskind, Takoma Park, Md.

Application February 4, 1955, Serial No.'486,193 13 Claims. Cl. 197-181) My invention is directed to a device for collecting erased particles erased from typed work on a typewriter. One of the major problems in connection with typewriter repair and upkeep is the removal of erased particles which fall onto and between the type bars and their operating mechanism as a result of erasures made by the typist. The erasure of typed work usually takes place above the anvil of a typewriter. When erasing the top sheet, the erased particles naturally fall down or about the anvil and onto and between the type bars'and their operating mechanism. The accumulation of such'erased particles between the type bars and in the operating mechanism causes the keys to stick and necessitates the thorough cleaning of the typewriter. When era-sures are made on the carbon copy, a trough is formed by the sheets of paper to collect the erased particles which are subsequently brushed out to the side. However, with the top or original sheet no such trough is available, and these particles fall downwardly as explained above.

'It is an object of my invention to provide a dustcollecting pan which may be easily moved into position adjacent the platen and anvil to collect' erased particles when an erasure is made.

A further object of my invent-ion is to provide a dust pan which may be easily moved into position to collect the dust particles adjacent the platen where an erasure is made and wherein the dust pan is normally urged into dust-collecting position by a spring and held retracted by a lock device which includes, as a portion thereof, the eraser actually used by the typist.

Another object of my invention is to provide a movably mounted dust pan for a typewriter to collect erased particles wherein the dust pan in its movement is interlocked with the eraser such that the removal of the eraser automatically causes the dust pan to position itself adjacent the platen to collect erased particles.

A still further object of my invention is to provide in a typewriter a dust pan which is biased to move to a position adjacent the platen when the eraser used by the typist is removed from a lock means associated with the dust pan mounting.

Still further objects and the entire scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from'the detailed description given hereinafter; it should be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific examples are given by way of illustration only and, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, arenot givenby way of limitations, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

For a more complete understanding of the nature and scope of the invention reference is made to the drawings in which: p

Fig. l is a fragmentary top plan view of a typewriter frame and platen with dust pan device mounted thereon; Fig. 2 is a side elevation sectional view along line 2-2 of'Fig. l; I

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view on an enlarged scale along section line 3-3 of Fig. 1 showing the mountin of the dust pan and its operating mechanism; a a

Fig. 4 is a plan view on a further enlarged scale along section line 4-4 of Fig. 3 of the device;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional elevational along section line 5-5 of Fig. 4; I

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view along section line 6-6 showing the guide-way and slide which mounts the dust (Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a typical dust pan which may be used with the movable mounting means according to my invention;

Fig. 8 is a top plan view partly in section of a modified form of dust pan mounting andoperating means;

Fig. 9 is an elevational view along section line 9-9 of Fig. 8 showing the modified form of device;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary elevational view along line 10-10 of Fig. 9 showing the guide-way, the slide, and the cord pull means attached to the slide;

Fig. 11 is a plan view of a solenoid type actuator;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view along line 12-12 of Fig. 11 showing the attachment of the armature and the solenoid to the slide;

Fig. 13 is a sectional view along line 13-13 of Fig. 11 showing the electrical solenoid switch; and

Fig. 14 is a circuit diagram for the switch and solenoid.

Throughout the various figures of the drawings and the written description like reference numerals refer to similar parts. 7

.In Fig. 1 the conventional typewriter is generally indicated at 10 and includes a top frame piece 11, a typical platen 12and an anvil 13 adjacent the platen and through which the type passes in striking the ribbon (not shown). An elongated bracket or guide-way, according to my invention, is generally indicated at 14 which may be cemented or otherwise secured to the typewriter frame portion 11. In some cases the guide-way may be built into the frame. Reference to Fig. 6 shows a cross-section of this guide-way 14 having spaced-apart elongated bottom strips 15 having their sides bent up and formed. over at the top as at 15' so as to form a track way to receive a slide 16 of rectangular elongated shape. Bracket 14 has a cross end piece 17 at its outer end and an integral protruding plate 18 at its other end having a transversely extending shelf 19 for supporting a spring mechanism to be described.

Reference to Fig. 4 shows a spring drive mechanism generally indicated at 20 which is mounted on a center post 21 affixed to the transversely extending shelf 19. The outer shell of the spring device 20 is formed with gear teeth 22, and coil spring 23 is contained withinthe spring device and attached at one end to the shell and at the other end to the fixed pivot post 21. Cooperating with this spring device and the gear teeth thereon is the slide generally indicated at 1-6 which is of elongated shape and is received within the sides 15-15 of the guideway 14. This slide 16 slides freely within the guideway turned-up portions 15 and has along one edge and in cooperation with the gear teeth 22, of the spring device 20, a gear rack 24, as best shown in Fig. 4. The pan-carrying device generally indicated at 14 is shown in Figs. l and 4 mounted on the top frame portionll of the typewriter so that its longitudinal axis is directed toward the anvil 13 of the typewriter. The guide 16 is thus spring biased'to be moved toward the platen 12 and over the anvil 13.

The slide 16 is formed with an aperture 25 therein which receives a supporting post on the dust pan to be described. Reference to Figs. 1 and 3 shows amounting bracket 26 attached to the slide 16 such that the dust pan27 may be received therein along its edge. Dust pan waw 3 27 is formed with upstanding sides 28 and is of a generally squaresha'p'e while"on'eside29 is beveled, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, so as to form a neat wedge-like contact with the platen 12 and thereby provide an apron for directing and receiving any erased particles. The pair 27 isalso' formed with turned-over lips'at the top of each sideas indicated at 28, so as to hold in any particles when the pan is moved into and out of the erased particle collection position. Pan 27, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3,

is" formed "with a central depending post at its bottom as indicatedat 30 which is received within the aperture .5 formed in slide 16.

Aflixed to the guide-way end 17 is a vertically upstanding post 31 which forms one portion of a lock means for holding the slide 16in retracted position. Mounted'on'slide 16 is a second'post 32'as by means of the threaded end 32 received in a threaded aperture 33 in'theiighthaiidend of slide 16. An L-shaped bracket piece 34 having: an elongated slot 35 therein is received over the threadedend 32' of the post 32 and held adjacent the 'top of slide 16 while its'depending flanged end 34'." protrudes down over the righthand end of the, slide 16. Bracket 34, may be adjusted on the slide 16 so as to position it to strike the ledge 18'. on bracket 14 so as to limit the travel of the slide 16. such that the tray 27 will be properly positioned adjacent the platen 12. To complete the lock, I provide an eraser generally indicated at 35 having a plate 36 attached thereto, as by means of ascrew 37, said plate 36 having spaced apertures 38 and 39 formed therein that are received over the lock portion posts 31 and 32 so as to hold the slide 16 in retracted position.

In order for the typist to make an erasure, it is necessary to grasp the eraser member 35 and pull or withdraw it from its mounting posts 31-32 whereupon it unlocks the slide 16. so that the spring mechanism 20 urges the slide 16 toward platen 12and the pan 27 carried by slide 16 is brought into position adjacent platen 12 over the anvil13 to receive any erased particles. After the erasure has been made, the typi st places the aperture 39 of eraserj element 35 over lock post 32 on the slide 16 and urges it to the right in its guide-way 14 and slips the other aperture 38of the eraser element 35 over the lock post;31 afiixed to the guide-way. Thus, the eraser element 35 interlocks the dust pan in itsmounting on the typewriter such that when the eraser element 35 is graspedby the hand of the typist and removed from its mounting to be used, dust pan 27 automatically is projected into eraser particle collection position adjacent platen 12. After an erasure has been made, the reverse of said operation takes place to lock the slide 16 in its retracted position.

In Figs. 8, 9, and 10. are shown a modified form of actuating mechanism and lock means. A spring drive means is generally indicated at 40 and it is mounted on shelf 19 by means of a centerpivotscrew 41 and has an internal spiral spring 42. The outer periphery 43 of the spring device 40 is grooved and has attached thereto in aperture 44 one end of a take-up cord 45 which may be wound thereon under the influence of spring 42. The other end of cord 45 passesalong the edge of slide 16' within an elongated recess or groove 46 while the other end of the cord 45 is attached by means of a screw 47 to the righthand end of the slide 16'. The guide-way generally indicated at 48 has upstanding sides 49 and inturned top flanges 50. The righthand ends of these sides 49 are cut away as at 49 and 48 to form a transverse slot generally indicated at 51. This slot 51 receives an eraser element 52 which is of elongated shape and generally rectangular in cross-section as shown in Fig. 9. An adjustable bracket 53 having an elongated slot 54 therein and a U-shaped trough formed on one end as indicated at 55 is mounted 'on the righthand end of slide 16 in an adjusted position by means of a screw 56. The U-shaped trough 55 on bracket 53 is in alignment with the slot 51 in the bracket or guideway 48. Bracket 53'may be adjusted'on the slide 16' as was bracket 34 in Fig. 4 to limit the travel of slide 16'. The U-shaped trough 55 of bracket 53 will strike edge 18', see Fig. 8, and limit the travel of the slide 16' so as to position the tray adjacent the platen. The U-shaped trough 55' of bracket 53 has a rolled head 55 formed on the top of its rear upright leg member 55" which serves as an abutment for placement of the lower righthand corner 52 of the eraser 52 so that pressure may be placed on the eraser 52 to move the slide 16' back in its guide-way 48 from a projected position. When trough 55 is in align ment with the slot 51, the eraser 52 is pushed down in the slide 16' and locked into position.

Referring again to Figs. 8, 9, and 10, the modified form, it will be observed that the slot 51 in the guide-way 48 forms a lock portion on the guide-way while the U- shaped trough 55 of bracket 53 forms another lock portion which is positioned on the slide 16' for, cooperation with the lock or slot portion 51 on the guide-way 48. To complete the full lock with these lock portions 51 and 55, men made, of the eraser element 52 which serves to join the lookfmembe'rs and hold the guide 16' in a retracted position. Removal of the eraser element by the operator, permits the spring mechanism to wind up the cord and pull the slide 16 into contact position with the platen so that the dust pan 27 positioned thereon is brought into eraser particle collecting position.

It is within thescope of my invention to utilize instead of a spring means to move the slide and the dust pan an electrical actuator such as a solenoid 65. The lock means hereinabove described which holds the slide would be in circuit with or cause a circuit to be made to the solenoid 65 whereupon removal of the eraser would cause circuit completion.

Reference to Figs. 11-14 inclusive shows the solenoid arrangement for motivating the slide 16' in the turned up guideway portion 15'. On the, top flange of guideway 15. is mounted. a bracket which supports the solenoid 61.. Armature 62 of the solenoid 61 has one end secured as at 62' to a transversely extending bracket 63 having a turned portion 64 secured to the slide 16' whereby energization of the solenoid 65.moves slide 16 to the left and carries with it the tray 27. A switch 65 is mounted so. that its plunger actuator 66 is in alignment with the erase: 52 when mounted in bracket 53. Solenoid 61 is connected to two, supply lines 67 and 68. Switch 65 is. connected, in supply line 67. Thus, on removing the eraser52, a circuit is completed through the contacts of switch 65 through the solenoid 61 and the slide 16iis projected to the left to move the tray 27 into eraser collecting position adjacent the platen 12. The solenoid may bespring biased to retract the armature.

The eraser particle collecting devices here disclosed make use of 'the 'interlockfeature of the eraser to hold the dust pan retrac'tedwhile the. eraser is housed. When the typist needs the eraser and withdraws it from its stored position, the dust pa n automatically moves into eraser collecting position adjacent the platen.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination with a typewriter having a platen, an anvil adjacent the platen and type bars beneath the anvil, the improvement comprising a dust pan mounted on the typewriter for movement into and out of position adjacent said platen and over said anvil for collecting any erased particles when the operator makes an. erasure and preventing the'particlesfrom falling between said type bars and their operating mechanism, mounting means attached-to the typewriterfor movably supporting said pan, said mounting means having spring means urging said pan into engagement with said platen, lock means connected with said typewriter, and'mounting means for holding said mounting means and dust. pan away from said platen, said lock means including an eraser member used for erasing typed work adapted to be inserted in the lock means to hold said pan and its movable mounting means retracted from the platen and upon removal of the eraser from the lock means permitting the spring means to move said dust pan and its mounting means so that the dust pan is positioned adjacent the platen to collect erased particles from the work upon utilization of said eraser to erase typed work.

2. An attachment for a typewriter for collecting erased particles, said typewriter having a platen, an anvil, type bars and operating mechanism positioned below said anvil and platen, said attachment comprising, in combination, a mounting bracket, a dust pan support means movably mounted on said bracket, a dust pan detachably supported by said dust pan support means, spring means attached to said mounting bracket and said dust pan support means and urging said dust pan support means so that said dust pan is positioned adjacent said platen over said anvil to receive erased particles falling when typed work is erased and prevent such particles from falling into said type bars and their operating mechanism, and lock means attached to said bracket and said dust pan support means for holding said dust pan support means and the dust pan in retracted position away from said platen, said lock means including an eraser member adapted to be inserted in the lock means to hold said dust pan and its mounting means retracted and upon removal of the eraser from the lock means permitting the dust pan mounting means to be urged by the spring means to position the dust pan adjacent the platen over the anvil.

3. An attachment for a typewriter for collecting erased particles, said typewriter having a platen, an anvil, type bars and operating mechanism positioned below said anvil and platen, said attachment comprising, in combination, an elongated guide-way attachable to said typewriter and having the longitudinal axis thereof directed toward said anvil, said guide-way having spring means and a portion of a lock means affixed thereto, an elongated slide mounted in said guide-way for sliding movement toward and away from said anvil and platen and having another cooperating lock means portion for cooperation with said portion of the lock means on said guide-Way, connecting means connecting said spring means and said slide and urging said slide toward said anvil and platen, a dust pan mounted on said slide and movable therewith to a position in engagement with said platen over said anvil to catch erased particles falling thereinto when typed work is erased, and an eraser having means thereon for cooperation with both of said por- 1 tions of lock means on the guide-way and slide, whereby application of said cooperating means on the eraser to said lock means on the slide and guide-way retains said slide and said pan carried thereby retracted from said platen and removal of said eraser from its locking position releases said slide permitting said spring means to move said slide and the pan carried thereon into dust collecting position adjacent said platen.

4. An attachment for a typewriter for collecting erased particles, said typewriter having a platen, an anvil, type bars and operating mechanism therefor positioned below said anvil and platen, said attachment comprising, in combination, an elongated guide-way attachable to said typewriter and having the longitudinal axis thereof directed toward said anvil, said guide-way comprising a generally rectangular shaped frame having turned up longitudinal edges with inwardly extending flanges formed integral therewith and a transversely extending platform projecting therefrom at one side adjacent the end nearest said anvil, a rotatable spring biased drive wheel mounted on said platform and having a peripheral drive surface, an elongated slide mounted in said guide-way with its longitudinal edges confined within said turned up edges and inturned flanges of the guide-way, one longitudinal edge of said slide having driving engagement with the 6 peripheral surface of said drive wheel, a dust pan carried by said slide and movable therewith to a position in engagement with said platen over said anvil to catch erased particles falling thereinto when typed work is erased, and releasable latch means connecting said slide and said guide-way for holding said slide in retracted position in said guide-way and away from said platen, said latch means on release permitting said drive wheel to project said slide and the dust pan carried thereby into particle collecting position adjacent said platen.

5. A11 attachment for a typewriter of the character described in claim 4 wherein said peripheral drive surface on said drive wheel has gear teeth and said elongated slide edge in engagement with said drive wheel has rack teeth for engagement with the gear teeth on said drive wheel, said slide on being moved to retracted position tensioning said spring biasing means therein.

6. An attachment for a typewriter of the character described in claim 5 wherein said latch means includes a strap element having an eraser attached thereto, said strap element being detachably engageable with said guide-way and said slide to hold the slide in retracted position.

7. An attachment for a typewriter of the character described in claim 4 wherein said latch means includes a strap element having an eraser attached thereto, said strap element being detachably engageable with said guide-way and said slide to hold the slide in retracted position.

8. An attachment for a typewriter for collecting erased particles, said typewriter having a platen, an anvil, type bars and operating mechanism therefor positioned below said anvil and platen, said attachment comprising, in combination, an elongated guide-Way attachable to said typewriter and having the longitudinal axis thereof directed toward said anvil, said guide-way comprising a generally rectangular shaped frame having turned up longitudinal edges with inwardly extending flanges formed integral therewith, a transversely extending platform projecting therefrom at one side adjacent the end nearest said anvil, a rotatable spring biased drive pulley mounted on said platform, an elongated slide mounted in said guide-way with its longitudinal edges confined within said turned-up edges and inturned flanges of the guideway, a cord attached at one end to said spring biased pulley for winding thereon and having its other end attached to said slide adjacent the end thereof remote from said anvil whereby said cord wound up on said pulley pulls said slide in the guide-way toward said anvil, a dust pan carried by said slide and movable therewith to a position in engagement with said platen over said anvil to catch erased particles falling thereinto when typed work is erased, and catch means for releasably holding said slide retracted in said guide-way against the tensioning in said spring biased pulley, said catch means comprising transverse aligned slots formed in said turned up longitudinal edges of the sides of the guide-way adjacent the end thereof removed from said anvil, a U-shaped bracket attached to said slide and in alignment with said slots when the slide is retracted and an elongated eraser element insertable in said slots and U-shaped bracket to hold the slide retracted and removable to release said slide.

9. An attachment for a typewriter of the character described in claim 8 wherein said slide has the edge thereof adjacent said spring biased pulley formed with a longitudinal groove to receive said cord therein.

10. An attachment for a typewriter of the character described in claim 8 wherein said dust pan is detachably mounted on said slide.

11. An attachment for a typewriter of the character described in claim 8 wherein said bracket attached to said slide to receive a portion of said elongated eraser element is provided with an elongated slot to be received over a screw, in said slide for adiustably positioning-said bracketv on said slide.

12. In combination with a typewriter having a platen, an anvil adjacent the, platen and type bars beneath the anvil, the improvement comprising a dust pan mounted on the typewriter for movement into and out of a position adjacent said platen and over said anvil for collecting,

anyerascd particles when the operator makes an erasure and preventing the particles from falling between said type bars and their operating mechanism, mounting means attached to the typewriter for movabiy supporting said pan, power drive means urging said pan into erasure particlecollecting position adjacent said platen, and con trol means. for said powermeans, said control means including. an eraser member used for erasing. typed work adapted to be housed in said control means and upon removal therefrom causing said control means and the power means operated thereby to move said dust pan and its mounting means so that the dust pan ispositioncd adjacent the platen to collect erasedparticles.

13. An attachment for a typewriter of the character described in claim 12 wherein said power drive means is an electrical solenoid.

No references cited. 

